Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
(CLCS)
Outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the
baselines:
Submissions to the Commission:
Joint submission by France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland
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Updated
on 20 August 2009
On 19 May 2006, France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland submitted through the Secretary-General of the United
Nations to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, in accordance
with Article 76, paragraph 8 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea, information on the limits of the
continental shelf appurtenant to France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as the "four
coastal States") that lie beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from
which the territorial seas of these four coastal States are measured in the
portion of the continental shelf in the area of the Celtic Sea and the Bay of
Biscay.
It is noted that the Convention entered into force for
France on 11 May 1996, for Ireland on 21 July 1996, for Spain on 14 February
1997 and for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 24
August 1997.
The notes accompanying the submission state that "[t]he enclosed submission is
of a joint nature, comprising a single project prepared collectively and
collaboratively by the four coastal States. For each of these four coastal
States the enclosed joint submission represents a partial submission in respect
of a portion only of the outer limits of the continental shelf appurtenant to
all four coastal States that lie beyond 200 nautical miles from their baselines
from which the breadth of their respective territorial seas are measured. This
portion of shelf is not the subject of any dispute and, in the view of the four
coastal States, its consideration by the Commission will not prejudice matters
relating to the delimitation of boundaries between the four coastal States and
any other States".
The notes accompanying the submission also state that "[i]n
accordance with paragraph 3 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure of the
Commission, in order not to prejudice unresolved questions relating to the
delimitation of boundaries between
France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
and some of their neighbours in other portions of
the continental shelf appurtenant to
France, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, submissions for those portions shall be made
at a later date".
In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, a communication is
about to be circulated to all Member States of the United
Nations, as well as States Parties to the Convention, in order to make public the executive summary of the submission, as well
as all charts and coordinates contained in that summary.
The consideration of the submission made by France, Ireland, Spain and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was included in the provisional agenda of the eighteenth
session of the Commission which was held in New York from 21 August to 15 September 2006.
Upon completion of the consideration of the submission, the Commission shall
make recommendations to these States pursuant to article 76 of the Convention.
On 24 March 2009,
the Commission adopted the “Recommendations of the Commission on the Limits of
the Continental Shelf in regard to the Joint Submission made by France, Ireland,
Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of
the area of the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay on 19 May 2006. Pursuant to
article 6, paragraph 3, of annex II to the Convention, the recommendations,
including a summary thereof, were submitted in writing to the four coastal
States and to the Secretary-General.
Summary of the
Recommendations (2009)
Pursuant to section V. paragraph 11 (3) of Annex III to the
Rules of Procedures of the Commission,
the summary of the
Recommendations is hereby made public.
Summary of the Recommendations
Submission (2006)
Note:
The designations employed in the submissions, including description of the
areas, are as contained in the communications from submitting States or in the
executive summaries. Their listing on this web site and the presentation of
material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of
the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any
country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the
delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
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